porcupine
Bristling forest dweller
A porcupine is a large rodent covered in sharp, barbed quills that serve as defense against predators.
When threatened, a porcupine raises its quills; contrary to myth, it cannot shoot them, but the quills detach easily on contact and are painful to remove.
The dog learned the hard way to leave porcupines alone.
Hollow defensive animal spikes
- spinesStiff, pointed projections
- underfurMammal's insulating base coat
- rosetteCircular ribbon ornament
- barbBackward-pointing spike
keratin · nose · teeth · claws · tail · whiskers · snout · ears
Hollow defensive animal spikes
- gnawingPersistent biting action
- incisorsFront cutting teeth
- nocturnalActive during darkness
- burrowAnimal's dug dwelling
forage · herbivore · den · whiskers · tail · claws · climbing · solitary
Hollow defensive animal spikes
- barbedHaving sharp projections
- detachableAble to be unfastened
- rattlingProducing rapid knocks
- warningAlert about danger
protection · embedded · painful · infection · antibiotic · keratin · regrowth · erect
Forested land area
- forestTree-dense ecosystem
- coniferousProducing woody cones
- deciduousSheds foliage seasonally
- denPrivate room or lair
tree · burrow · cave · underbrush · boreal · temperate · desert · savanna
Bearing a head tuft
Traditional narrative passed down
- fableMoral tale with animals
- quillworkEmbroidery with porcupine spines
- beadworkStrung ornament craft
- embroideryDecorative stitching on fabric
decoration · craft · trickster · Aesop · Schopenhauer
quills
Hollow defensive animal spikes
- spinesStiff, pointed projections
- underfurMammal's insulating base coat
- rosetteCircular ribbon ornament
barb · keratin · nose · teeth · claws · tail · whiskers · snout · ears · paws
quills
Hollow defensive animal spikes
burrow · forage · herbivore · den · whiskers · tail · claws · climbing · solitary · slow-moving
quills
Hollow defensive animal spikes
- barbedHaving sharp projections
- detachableAble to be unfastened
- rattlingProducing rapid knocks
warning · protection · embedded · painful · infection · antibiotic · keratin · regrowth · erect · bristling
woodland
Forested land area
- forestTree-dense ecosystem
- coniferousProducing woody cones
- deciduousSheds foliage seasonally
den · tree · burrow · cave · underbrush · boreal · temperate · desert · savanna · rainforest
crested
Bearing a head tuft
cape · Philippine · long-tailed · dwarf
folktale
Traditional narrative passed down
embroidery · decoration · craft · trickster · Aesop · Schopenhauer
- AlaskaFairbanks, Juneau, Denali, Sitka, Kodiak
- American Wildliferaccoon, bison, bald eagle, grizzly bear, beaver
- Eurasian wildlifeSiberian tiger, giant panda, red panda, snow leopard, Asian elephant
- forest animalsbadger, beaver, chipmunk, deer mouse, fox
- rodentsmouse, rat, guinea pig, squirrel, mice
- spiny animalshedgehog, echidna, sea urchin, porcupinefish
porcupineteddy bear
Soft ursine plaything
lapdog · social butterfly · golden retriever · cuddle bug · people person
- porcupine quillsSpiny rodent defense structures
- porcupine fishSpined inflating marine fish